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Photo Credit: Mary Moore

Because we left this tarragon branch attached to the parent plant while rooting, it will remain strong while new roots form.

There’s nothing like the fragrance of an herb garden. Sweet lavender sways in the wind, letting its fragrance drift with the breeze. Thyme’s savory aroma releases with a simple touch, and rosemary’s heady scent just begs to be added to your next meal. But buying new herbs every year can add up. So consider starting new plants from your existing ones to overwinter indoors – or if you want to start an herb bed from scratch, find a kind friend or neighbor willing to share some of their plants. With a little know-how, you’ll be able to grow a whole new garden in no time at all!

Layering is one propagation method that encourages branches to grow roots while still attached to the main plant. A simple method of layering is to use a small clay pot with a drainage hole on the bottom and some potting soil to start the new plant in. Then pick a healthy branch with nice leaves. Remove any flowers from the stem. About 8 inches below the end of the branch, gently remove the bark or outer covering of the stem, and apply a root hormone to the exposed area. Gently push the branch up through the pot’s drainage hole so the exposed area is inside, and fill the container with potting soil. Water thoroughly. Check every month or so to see how the roots are growing. When you see a lot of roots in the soil, cut the branch from the parent plant below the pot and replant it in a larger planter. Be sure to keep it in shade for the first few days.

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Photo Credit: Mary Moore

Many herbs root well from cuttings, including rosemary, lavender, thyme, mint and tarragon.

Some groundcover herbs like thyme are even easier to root: Just take several pieces of relatively new growth, cover part of the stem with dirt, and pat the soil firmly into place. Check again in a few months. When several of the stems have formed good roots, trim them from the parent plants and move them into a small pot. Keep the new plant in a shady spot until it becomes established.

Root cuttings are an easy and effective way to create new herbs. You’ll need a tray of small pots with a plastic cover, potting soil or potting medium, rooting hormone, pruning shears to cut the branches and a shaded area for your new cuttings.